ALACHUA COUNTY

Project SEARCH
A collaboration to expand internship and employment opportunities for
neurodiverse individuals to find and keep meaningful employment.

MODEL COMPONENTS CALENDAR

Based on a national model Elements of Project SEARCH Proposed YEAR 1 Project
started in Ohio in 1996. SEARCH Calendar

May 2024:
What Graduate and
Framework for collaboration with Begin Work
schools, agencies and organizations to
help neurodiverse individuals find and
keep meaningful employment. Work-Based Learning Internship 3:
10 Weeks
Skills Training / Business
Inclusion Internships Immersion
Who Internship 2:
Workshop Week
Individuals 18 - 22 who have completed 10 Weeks
all high school graduation requirements,
meet eligibility for vocational SWOT
Project
Internship 1: Workshop
requirements, motivated to have a job
and have family support.
Analysis
SEARCH 10 Weeks
Workshop Week
Week

Education / Orientation:
How
UF Health Shands Hospital & UF College Diversity Competitive Classroom 3 Weeks
of Medicine offer a one-year job training Employment Instruction
program. Participants are placed into 3, August 2023:
10 weeklong internships followed by Begin
organization/community jobs. Program

COLLABORATORS EMPLOYMENT RATE FOR

COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT
UF College of Medicine / School Board of Other Partners
UF Health Shands Alachua County
Students with Significant FL 2021 Employment Rate for
Cognitive Disabilities Individuals 18 - 64 with
Project Search Provides instructor Vocational Project SEARCH 5-yr average Cognitive Disabilities
licensee to teach program Rehabilitation: Local
Internship and and coordinate Counselor / Area
employment support Supervisor
opportunities in Facilitates intern Community 68.4% 31.4%
health care recruitment Rehabilitation
Project management activities, and Partner: Skills
support training and job
coordinates and
Community and development
monitors intern
county engagement Development
activities
Disability Agencies:
Long-term service
provider
www.projectsearch.us